The Indonesian capital of Jakarta is on track to be named as the surrogate host city for the 2018 Asian Games, according to various media reports coming from the country. 

The Vietnamese city of Hanoi was originally selected as the host by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) until the government withdrew from the Games in April citing concerns over financial viability and a lack of preparation.

New Delhi was originally considering a bid to host the Games as a replacement for Hanoi but missed a deadline set by the OCA to enter their bid. Various Asian media organisations are now reporting the OCA has settled on Jakarta as the best replacement for Hanoi following inspections of the city by honorary vice president Wei Jizhong. 

Jizhong has reportedly said that Jarkata’s infrastructure already meets the set requirements and is almost ready to host the Games but may co-host the event with the city of Palembang. 

This is despite previous claims by the Jakarta Deputy Governor, Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, that the city would require the construction of mass and light rapid transit systems, loop lines for electric trains, six toll roads and improvements to the city’s public bus network before it will be ready to host the games.

However, Jakarta already has a range of sporting venues built in the city and surrounding regions meaning only a limited amount of large scale construction work would be required to hold the event.

Indonesian Olympic Committee chairperson Rita Subowo was joined by Jizhong on the inspection of the country’s potential Games facilities which included Gelora Bandung Lautan Api stadium which could be used for the football tournament. 

Subowo said that other cities in the West Java and Depok regions of the country would be needed in order to host the Games but she remained optimistic about Indonesia’s potential to host the event and told reporters that Jakarta is close to meeting the criteria set in order to host the Games.

HOST CITY asked the OCA for more details about the bidding process and other candidates to host the Games, but the organisation declined to comment.

Newly elected Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) President H.E. Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani has underlined the importance of unity across Asia, as Saudi Arabia’s hosting of the 2029 Asian Winter Games was postponed.

Speaking following his election on 26 January, Sheikh Joaan described Asia’s diversity as a strength that must be guided by shared values.

“Asia is the largest and most diverse continent within the Olympic family… This diversity is our greatest strength,” he said, adding that unity would allow the OCA to empower National Olympic Committees and provide opportunities for young athletes.
“Together, let’s work towards a more united, stronger, and successful OCA. Together for Asia.”

The comments came soon after the OCA confirmed that Saudi Arabia’s planned hosting of the 2029 Asian Winter Games has been postponed indefinitely.

In a joint statement on 24 January, the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee and the OCA said they had agreed on “an updated framework for future hosting of the Asian Winter Games, confirming the postponement of the 2029 edition to a later date to be announced in due course.”

The statement said the decision followed “extensive consultations” and reflected “a shared strategic commitment to the long-term and sustainable development of winter sports in Saudi Arabia and across the West Asia region.”

Under the revised framework, Saudi Arabia will instead host a series of standalone winter sports events in the coming years, designed to promote participation, develop athletes and officials, and support wider regional representation at future Asian Winter Games.

The OCA said it “commended Saudi Arabia’s ongoing efforts to establish comprehensive and sustainable winter sports programs,” while Saudi Arabia reaffirmed its commitment to winter sports development through continued investment in athletes, infrastructure and international-standard competitions.

The OCA had previously held discussions with South Korea about the possibility of stepping in to host the 2029 Games.

Sheikh Joaan was elected unopposed at the 46th OCA General Assembly in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, attended by representatives of all 45 Asian National Olympic Committees, as well as Uzbekistan President H.E. Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

Also serving as ANOC Senior Vice President and President of the Qatar Olympic Committee, Sheikh Joaan outlined his “Together for Asia” vision, committing to “strengthen solidarity and development throughout Asia… promote good governance… ensure OCA events and programmes are sustainable, inclusive, and credible.”

He becomes the 22nd President of the Olympic Movement in Asia since the continent’s first multisport Games in 1913 and will serve the remainder of the term following the resignation of former OCA President Randhir Singh due to health reasons.

Sheikh Joaan praised Singh’s contribution, saying, “I wish to express my sincere appreciation to my dear friend His Excellency Mr. Raja Randhir Singh for his leadership, vision, and tireless efforts during challenging times.”

Uzbekistan will host the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) General Assembly on 26 January in Tashkent, with authorities using the occasion to outline recent developments in the country’s sporting structure and event-hosting capacity.

A statement released ahead of the Assembly pointed to a period of expanded international engagement, competitive results and infrastructure investment as evidence of the country’s growing role within regional and global sport. The statement said these efforts were part of a longer-term strategy aligned with national sports policy.

Competitive highlights include the national football team’s qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the first in the country’s history, following success at regional level. The statement also cited Uzbekistan’s 13th-place finish at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, along with medal performances at youth and para-sport events during 2025.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino, commenting during a visit to Tashkent in 2025, described Uzbekistan as “a football nation that is implementing large-scale projects,” and noted the opening of the National Football Center.

Infrastructure projects completed during the past year include Olympic City, a multi-venue sports complex opened in August 2025. The site has been designated as the main hub for the 4th Asian Youth Games scheduled for 2029.

Otabek Umarov, First Vice President of the National Olympic Committee of Uzbekistan and OCA Vice President for Central Asia, said recent outcomes reflected “the coordinated work of athletes, coaches, federations and specialists across the sports system.”

In addition to the upcoming OCA General Assembly, Uzbekistan has hosted several international sports meetings and competitions in recent years. FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem, following the FIA Annual General Assemblies in Tashkent in 2025, said the visit demonstrated “a clear focus on long-term development and youth.”

Looking ahead, Uzbek sports authorities confirmed that the 2026 calendar includes the World Triathlon Championship Series in Samarkand (25-26 April), the 46th Chess Olympiad in Samarkand (15-28 September), and the World Aquatics Swimming World Cup in Tashkent (8-10 October).

[Source: QOC] His Excellency Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al-Thani, President of the Qatar Olympic Committee and Senior Vice President of the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC), has officially announced his candidacy for the Presidency of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), reaffirming his commitment to contributing to the development and unity of Asian sport in the years ahead.

The announcement follows the Olympic Council of Asia’s official call for nominations for the presidential elections, issued on 15 July 2025, in preparation for the upcoming General Assembly, which will be held in January 2026 in the city of Tashkent.

On this occasion, H.E. Sheikh Joaan expressed his sincere gratitude and appreciation to H.E. Raja Randhir Singh, the current OCA President, for his significant contributions and dedicated leadership in advancing Asian sport, as well as his unwavering commitment to strengthening solidarity and cooperation among National Olympic Committees across the continent. His Excellency also fully supported the OCA Executive Board’s decision to appoint H.E. Raja Randhir Singh as Honorary Life President of the Olympic Council of Asia, in recognition of his longstanding service and enduring legacy within the Olympic Movement in Asia.

H.E. Sheikh Joaan affirmed that his candidacy is rooted in a strong belief in the power of sport to foster development and unity among nations. He emphasized the potential of Asian sport to achieve transformational progress in areas such as governance, sustainability, digital transformation, and athlete empowerment.

He also highlighted the importance of promoting fairness in opportunity distribution, strengthening collaboration among NOCs, enhancing sports infrastructure, and creating greater platforms for youth and women to take part in shaping the future of sport in Asia.

His Excellency’s candidature is built on an ambitious strategic vision for Asian sport, grounded in five core pillars: solidarity, digital transformation, sustainable development, credibility, and economic and financial resilience. It is underpinned by His Excellency’s extensive experience in sports, his proven track record at the helm of the Qatar Olympic Committee, and his active role within the international Olympic Movement, particularly as Senior Vice President of ANOC.

The upcoming OCA election is expected to draw significant interest from the international sporting community, amid growing global challenges and the need for dynamic leadership that promotes transparency, cooperation, and innovation across the Asian sports landscape.

Founded in 1982 and headquartered in Kuwait City, the Olympic Council of Asia is one of the most prominent continental sports organizations. It brings together 45 National Olympic Committees and plays a pivotal role in coordinating regional sports activities, supporting development initiatives, and enhancing cooperation in governance, infrastructure, and institutional capacity building.

The OCA also oversees the organization of major multi-sport events including the Asian Games, Asian Winter Games, Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games, Asian Beach Games, and the Asian Youth Games - competitions that continue to elevate Asia’s sporting profile on the world stage.